Inside 43215: Downtown Lifestyles
SEUSS ON THE LOOSE
The wicked old poet woulda had a great time with the traffic developments downtown. Y’know: Gay, Gay, goes both ways… If you can remember back to Hop On Pop, Seuss pretty much got the Town Street conversion covered with a character named Mr. Brown.
Front Street? Not so much. That’s a bona fide tragedy; cuz the plans for the thoroughfare are pure poetry. Like Town and Gay, Front is switching from one-way to a two-way passage. The stretch that runs between Broad and Rich streets began the process in July of 2008; and the changes will continue this summer – all the way to Mound Street.
It’s hard to imagine how all this construction and lane reduction could possibly result in a more vital downtown. Thank heavens us grown-ups don’t actually have to imagine anything. We can look at other cities, and see that these layouts work (St. Louis and Chattanooga come to mind). We don’t even have to look that far: look at the amazing hubbub that’s sprouted up on the aforementioned Gay Street since its conversion.
We can see downtown’s future in action; there’s no imagination required. So then, what’s the role for creative spirits?
To find a freakin’ rhyme for Front. Grunt? Blunt?
January 6th, 2009 at 9:30 am
What’s the point in this? What a waste of internet space.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Look at all the parking garages on Front St. it’s hard enough to get out of them now. People will stop right in front of you and not let you out. How will cutting 4 lanes of one way traffic down to 2 help the situation?? Also, currently you have to take your own life in your hands and cross over 4 lanes of traffic if you need to turn left at the next light. Is the city going to put a traffic cop at each of these garages since people are so rude now about stopping right in front of you so you can’t get out. We want to get home just like everyone else…
January 6th, 2009 at 11:05 am
It’s going to help by changing it from a drag strip into a real street, where drivers will have to pay attention to their surroundings instead of racing through at 40 mph trying to hit every light green.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Front St ain’t Gay st, the dynamic is different and there isn’t much room for new business along Front, too many government buildings and government seldom puts retail/restuarants on the first floor. The current Front St. one way north and Marconi/Civic Center one way wouth seems to work ok..
One other question, who came up with the bricks/cobblestones on the section of Town St next to the old lazarus building, they are slippery when wet !
January 6th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Does anyone know what the city has decided about the 670/70 split? They were thinking about running it through Mound or Livingston. Has anyone made up there mind yet?
January 6th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
“look at the amazing hubbub that’s sprouted up on the aforementioned Gay Street since its conversion.”
Gay Street is great, but I cannot think of anything that’s happened there that could be attributed to the conversion.
January 11th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Recently moved to Columbus from NYC. People here need to think about walking more and taking public transportation. If everyone does it then it will only get better over time. Who needs a car anyways!!